Phyllis Schlafly

Phyllis Schlafly (August 15, 1924 - September 5, 2016) was, in many ways, the founder of the modern conservative movement. She was described by the New York Times as the “one of the most relentless and accomplished platform debaters of any gender to be found on any side of any issue.”[1] "I think she's probably the best political organizer we've seen in American history," stated author Rick Perlstein.[2] Her political activism spanned 70 years and it is difficult to find any position that she was ever on the wrong side of.

Phyllis Schlafly was the first and most outspoken prominent conservative supporter of the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump, beginning in mid-2015.[3] In his eulogy at her funeral, Donald Trump observed that Phyllis Schlafly was a powerful, positive influence for one quarter of all of American history. Many credit his victory to her leadership in supporting him.

Phyllis Schlafly is often called the "conservative icon," "conservative legend," or conservatives' "first lady." She should be in the Guiness Book of World Records for the most number of debates and controversial speeches on college campuses (many hundreds), typically to packed auditoriums; for writing the longest-running political newsletter, the Phyllis Schlafly Report (50 years); and for the longest career as a delegate or alternate delegate to a national political convention (more than 60 years to the Republican National Convention, dating back to 1952).

Many credit Phyllis Schlafly for making it respectable for a woman to stay at home and raise children, amid an all-out assault by liberals to discredit that traditional way of life. By 1990, after advocacy by Phyllis Schlafly in support of stay-at-home moms, the percentage of women aged 25–54 in the workforce in the United States stopped increasing, in contrast with many other countries.

She was married to John Fred Schlafly, Jr. for forty-four years until his death (1909–1993), and is the mother of six children: John, Bruce, Roger, Liza, Anne, and Conservapedia founder Andrew Schlafly.

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Wit

Unlike most politicians and activists, Phyllis Schlafly has always had a good-natured wit in addressing difficult issues and adversity. For example, when Phyllis Schlafly received an honorary degree from Washington University, a fraction of the faculty and students protested the honor by wearing white armbands and/or turning their backs. When Mrs. Schlafly was asked for her comment about the protesters, she responded:[4]

“

I'm not sure they're mature enough to graduate!

”

Writings

Dr. Phyllis Schlafly, May 16, 2008.

Phyllis Schlafly first came to American national attention with her book, A Choice, Not An Echo 1964. (One of the ten best-selling conservative books of all time; three million copies sold.)

She authored 27 books on subjects as varied as family and feminism (The Power of the Positive Woman), nuclear strategy (Strike From Space and Kissinger on the Couch), education (Child Abuse in the Classroom), child care (Who Will Rock the Cradle? and Stronger Families or Bigger Government?,), and a phonics book (Turbo Reader), on the Judiciary: The Supremacists. Her most recent book, Feminist Fantasies, is a collection of essays on feminism in the media, workplace, home, and the military. She is also contributor of Great American Conservative Women.

Her final book, The Conservative Case for Trump, was released the day after she passed away and became a New York Times bestseller.